drilling holes for fishhouse

[aquafang]

I am buying my first retractable wheel fishhouse. How do you drill the holes and clean the ice out? Are the fumes bad in the house from the auger?

[hovermn]

Everyone has their own ways of doing it, but here's how I skin this cat.

After I pull up to the spot, I'll pull the catch cover lids and drill the holes with the house still up. Next, I shovel out the slush from under the house, drop the wheels and use the slush to seal the house up. It's especially nice when there's no snow on the lake to pack up against the house.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Yup, we all do it different, and here's another perspective.

I pull up, if there is a lot of snow, I shovel it out, drop down the house, pull the hole covers, put in my home made slush thrower avoider thingy (bucket with the bottom cut out) and drill away. Scoop the slush into a pail and toss out the door.

As far as fumes go, it kind of depends. Open a window and the door and the fumes will soon be gone. Use a decent oil and the smoke and fumes are a lot less.

[guppie]

I shovel if there is alot of snow, But I start the heater if not already going, drop it down to the ice, pull the catch covers, open windows, put the auger mate over the hole and drill. No slush to get off the carpet and then bank the holes with slush and clean out the rest of the hole. The auger mate is well worth it!

[guppie]

I forgot step one, grab a beer!

[MOBY RICHARD*]

If you use an Electric Auger, you will have no fumes, and less noise for you and the fish, although sometimes it seems some noise attracts them, but of course you can always make noise in other ways, if you want to...

Even though you air out the Carbon Monoxide after using a Gas Auger, you are in there while it is spewing...and though you may not notice, it can leave a slight carbon residue in the house, though it may not harm you, does dirty up the windows and walls like smoking over time...

Also not all fish houses go straight down on the holes, if you drill while the house is still on wheels, and then you have to try and line them up...

[Shack]

Moby Dick,

You hit the nail right on the head.

This is what I am looking to the future for. I blow out all the fumes and spend time cleaning holes while family sites in truck.

A pull behind, I would mark holes and pull away. Then back up again. This is what I would do.